Egytrans Approves NOSCO Acquisition Deal

An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)
An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)
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Egytrans Approves NOSCO Acquisition Deal

An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)
An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)

Egytrans, a leading provider of transport and logistics solutions, approved a deal to acquire the National Transport and Overseas Services Company (NOSCO), one of the leading companies in the transport field, particularly land transport and specialized transport for mega-projects.

The move comes as part of the company’s strategy for local and regional expansion.

Egytrans’ acquisition deal serves as a means of geographical expansion in Egypt, as well as a first step in the company's plans to expand into Arab markets, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The provider has plans to unlock markets in Africa later.

The company plans to penetrate the Saudi market by forming partnerships with Saudi investors in the equipment and machinery transportation sector for power stations, wind farms, oil and gas projects, according to Egytrans CEO Abir Leheta.

“Through this step, we aim to maintain the leadership position of both companies within the transport and logistics sector and build on it, all while strengthening the executive and operational capabilities of the group,” said Leheta.

“We strive to leverage NOSCO’s capabilities, especially its extensive fleet and technical experience to achieve maximum operational growth and target larger logistics opportunities and projects, in addition to expanding geographically and operationally across local, regional and global markets,” added Leheta.

Working across nine branches in Egypt, Egytrans aims to make integrated transport easy, safe, timely and cost-effective.

Egytrans enables and facilitates global and national supply chains through its extensive range of services including Sea Freight, Air Freight, Land Transport, Customs Clearance, Project Logistics, Exhibitions, and Storage.

It has developed several subsidiary and affiliate brands consisting of Egytrans Depot Solutions (EDS), Egyptian Transportation & Logistics S.A.E. (ETAL), Wilhelmsen Ports Service Egypt and Scan Arabia.

Gamal Moharam, Chairman of Egytrans, believes the transaction with NOSCO will be completed smoothly as all parties believe in the potential of this deal and its benefit for the ambitious growth and expansion strategies of both companies.



Egypt Completes Trial Run of New Suez Canal Channel Extension

An Egyptian navy vessel see in the Suez Canal, March 30, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)
An Egyptian navy vessel see in the Suez Canal, March 30, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Egypt Completes Trial Run of New Suez Canal Channel Extension

An Egyptian navy vessel see in the Suez Canal, March 30, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)
An Egyptian navy vessel see in the Suez Canal, March 30, 2021. (AFP/Getty Images)

Egypt said on Saturday it had successfully tested a new 10 km channel near the southern end of the Suez Canal.

The Suez Canal Authority said in a statement that during a trial run two ships passed through a new stretch of the canal's two-way section without incident.

Following the 2021 grounding of the container ship Ever Given that blocked the vital waterway for six days, Egypt accelerated plans to extend the second channel in the southern reaches of the canal and widen the existing channel.

Its revenue from the waterway, the gateway to the shortest route between Europe and Asia, has nevertheless tumbled since Yemen's Houthi militias began attacking ships in the Red Sea in November 2023 in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Thursday that due to "regional challenges", the country had lost approximately $7 billion in Suez Canal revenue in 2024, marking more than a 60% drop from 2023.

According to the Suez Canal Authority, the latest expansion extends the total length of the canal's two-way section to 82 km from a previous 72 km. The canal is 193 km long in total.

"This expansion will boost the canal's capacity by an additional 6 to 8 ships daily and enhance its ability to handle potential emergencies," the Suez Canal Authority said in its statement.

Earlier this year, Egypt said that it was considering an additional expansion project separate to the 10 km channel extension.